A convicted sex offender who groomed online what he believed was a 13-year-old girl has been jailed for nine months.



Daniel Thomas lied about his age as he engaged in sexualised talk, and even sent a picture of his genitals to someone he thought was a child.
But in reality the 28-year-old Trowbridge man was talking to an undercover police officer who had been patrolling teen chat rooms hunting for paedophiles.
And when he was arrested Thomas was found to have a cache of mobile phones and a laptop which he was not allowed to own following a previous conviction.
Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court Tomas was given a suspended sentence in December 2016 for downloading indecent images of children.
In early June this year he said a police officer was in a teen chat room posing as a 13-year-old girl when a message flashed up from a ‘Dave Thomas’.
After being told ‘her’ age the defendant claimed to be 18 and as the conversation developed it became more sexualised.
He suggested they continue talking via the Kik app where the continued asking about sex and sent her a picture of his flaccid penis.
Thomas asked her to send him images of herself and spoke about how he would like to meet her and how he would kiss her if they did.
As a result of the communication he was arrested on Thursday June 20 and found to have a computer and five phones.
Mr Meeke said as a result of a sexual harm prevention order imposed in 2016 he had to declare any internet enabled devices, and he had said he only had one phone.
Thomas, of Walnut Grove, Trowbridge, admitted attempting to make sexual contact with child and breach of a sexual harm prevention order.
Richard Williams, defending, said there are concerns about his client’s thinking and attitudes about sexuality.
But he said the probation service say they can work with him in the community to try and address the issues and reduce his risk of offending.
Before his arrest and remand in custody a month ago he said he was working and had stable accommodation.
Jailing him, and imposed a new 10 year sexual harm prevention order, Judge Peter Crabtree said “You behaviour over that period amounts to grooming.
“When you were interviewed you said you believed you were talking to a 13-year-old female and you lied about your age.
“You said you spoke about her boyfriend. You admitted you were attracted to underage girls and were aroused by those conversations.”